Soundproof building construction



Apnl 26, 1938. c. D. STEVENS 2,115,238

SOIJNDPROOF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 12, i955 2 sheets-sheet 1 April 26, 1938. c. D. sTEvENs 2,115,238

SUNDPROOF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed nec. 12, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 In Ver? for arle eyrezf Patented Apr. 26, 1938 2,115,238 soUNprRooF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Charles D. Stevens, Chicago, Ill., Vassignor to Walter E. Rutledge, trustee, for C. Whitney Stevens, A. C. Herbert, and W. E. Rutledge, all

of Chicago, Ill.

Application December 1.2, 1935, Serial No. 54,006

- 7 Claims.

This invention relates to insulation and to the construction of Walls, oors 'and other space-enclosing and space-dividing means which are insulated to limit or to prevent the transmission of sound and vibration generally.

One object of the invention is to provide a satisfactory sound insulating wall and floor construction. Another object is to provide a chair which is simple, inexpensive and readily usable in the manufacture and installation of walls, floors and the like.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims.

'Ihe invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-.

Figure 1 is a generally vertical section through a floor embodying the construction and the device of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on an enlarged scale extending longitudinally of one of the devices or chairs, showing a modified form of chair;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken at linef3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a pla'n View of a modified form illustrated further in Figures 6 and 7';-

. Figure 6 is a View generally similar to Figure 2 but showing a ceiling construction embodying a modified form of chair and construction;

Figure 7 is a transverse generally vertical section taken at line 'l-T of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an elevation, showing a modified vform of construction and chair with parts in section and parts broken away, the construction being that suitable for a wall or partition;

Figure 9 is a section taken at line 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a View generally similar to Figures 2 and 6, showing a further modified form of chair construction Figure ll is a transverse generally vertical sectrating a composite structure built up ofthe chairs and primarily adapted as a support for machinery. y

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

As shown in Figure 1, the planks I indicate the rough flooring. They may be mounted upon a support or baseor foundation 2 in any suitable 'mannen A finished floor formed of planks 3 is supported upon a series, of screeds 4. In the form shown in Figure 1 the screeds are supported on chairs, each of which' is composed of a plate 5 suitably perforated to receive nails 6 by means of which it is secured to the rough flooring. A

block of rubber 'l' is fused or vulcanized to the upper surface of the plate 5 and an arm member 8 is fused or vulcanized to the upper surface of the block of rubber. These arms are perforated' at their outer ends to permit .nails 9 to be driven into the screeds 4. The arms are preferablyfiattened at their outer ends to t smoothly against the lower surface of the screed and the perforations through which the nails fit may or may not be of such size as to permit some play, In other words, they may or may not t the lshank of the'nail s nugly. Where in the specification and claims the word nail-is used it is to 'be understood as meaning a screw, a. nail, `a pinor which two parts may be fastened together. AAs shown in Figures 2 and 3 the floor construction is the same as that just described-except preferably adjacent its center with a raised socket portion II preforated-to permit a bolt or fastening member'IZ to pass throughvt. .A block other generally analogous vmember by means of -that a lower plate I 0 is used which is provided f of rubber I3 is secured preferably by vulcanizing to the upper surface of the plate LD and carries on its own-upper surface the arm member I4 vWhichis-perforated as at i5 to permit vthe bolt I2 to pass through. ,A cushioning Washer, such as a rubberv or somewhat com presslble member Y I6, is positioned about the upper en d of the bolt and a second washer Il is positioned above the member I 6. A nut I8, threaded upon the bolt, holds the parts removablytogether. The arms I 4 are bent outwardly and upwardly-and terminate in fiat perforated portions I9 through which nails 20 pass to secure the arms to the screeds 4. The form of chair shown in Figures 2 and 3 is essentially the same as that shownin Figure 1 except 'for the presence ofthe 'bolt and nut construction and the structural modifications which the presence of the bolt makes necessary. In this i e form the rubber member may or may not be fused or vulcanized to the plates above or below it but preferably they are vulcanized and the bolt and nut construction serves as an additionalsecuring means.

The chairs or other structures of this invention arefsuitable for use with ceiling constructions. Where the chair is to be used in supporting a ceiling some modification may be desirable. Thus as shown in Figures 5, 6, and '1 the chairs are secured to joists 2|. AIn this form the chair comprises a plate 22 secured by nails 23 yor other-- wise to the joists 2|. A housing member 24 is sel cured to the plate 23. It may be riveted. welded or otherwise secured and encloses the cushioning members. While these may take a variety of forms, as shown they comprise a lower or load car- I rying cushioning member 25 which may be of rubber. Upon it rests an arm member 26 and above the arm 26 is a second cushioning member21. The arm member 26 terminates at each of its lower ends in attened perforated portions 28 through which wire` or other ties 29 pass. As shown the wire ties 29 secure a furring strip 30 to which lathing is attached. In this case the lathing is in the form of a wire screen 3| and plaster 32 is in contact with and supported by the lathing 3|. The cushion members 25 and 21 may merely be enclosed in and held in place by the housing member 24 and the plate 22 or they may be vulcanized to one or the other offthese parts. 'Ihe lathing may beheld by the ties 29 or may be nailed.

In the wall construction shown in Figures 8 and 9, 33 is a wall member. size and shape and may merely be a support such as a vertically positioned piece of wood. It may be a part of an ousside wall or anything of suicient strength to serve as a positioning and supporting means for an inner wall. It may, for example, be studding. The chairs are thus secured to studs 33. The chairs for the wall support comprise plates 34 secured by bolts 35 or otherwise to thestuds 33. Vulcanized or fused to the plate 34 are rubber blocks 36. On their outer faces the rubber blocks carry plates 31 each of which carries a pair of outwardly projecting arms 38 which are positioned to receive furring strips 39. When these strips are in place as shown in Figures 8 and 9 the outer ends 40 of the arms 38 are bent into place over and engaging the furring strips and may be secured by nails 4|. Metallic or other lathing 42 is secured to the furring vstrips and a plaster 43 is formed on the latltiing.

At their lower ends the furring strips rest upon members formed of base plates 44 secured-to the l flooring or foundation member 45 by nails 46.

Secured preferably by vulcanizingto the upper facel of the, plates 44 are rubber blocks 41 which carry on their upper faces plates 48 upon which the lower ends of the furring strips 39 rest.

As shown in Figures and 11 a modifled form of chair is used. The floor construction is 4the same as that described in connection with Figure 1 but the chair, instead of comprising merely a rubber block, comprises a base plate by nails 5| or otherwise. An arm member 52 passes through 'the housing butis out'of contact with it. At its upper endsthe arm member is provided with flat screed contacting portions l|53 which are secured to the screed 4 by nails 54.

` Positioned within the housing and preferablyin 54a. Above the rubber block, between it and the arm portion 52, is a felt section 55. This felt section may lie along the edges of the rubber block as shown particularly in Figure 11, being spaced in that figure between the edges of the rubber block 54a and the adjacent sides of the l housing 50. In other words, the rubber block lls only a portion of the space within the housing and preferably the remainder of that space is filled bythe felt. Passing through the felt the arm section 52 rests upon and is supported by the felt and is heid out of contact with the housing and with the rubber. The weight carried by the. arm member is transmitted through the'felt to the lrubber'block and thence to the remainder of the supporting structure. 'Ihe rubber block may or may not be vulcanized or otherwise secured to the plate 49.

In the modified form shown in Figure I2 the upper part of the floor is that shown in connection with Figure 1 and the chair is of the form shown in that figure. The lower plate, however,

differs from the lower plate 5 shown in the form of Figure 1, since it is intended primarily for use in connection with concrete supports. As`

upon this cement spotting when it is still soft.'

The lower part of the chair comprises a plate 58 perforated as at 59. As shown in Figure 12, when the plate is applied to the soft cement, portions 60 of the cement press through and rise above the plate 58 and tend to extend beyond the perforations 59 so that they key with the plate and the plate is thus positioned and held in position on the cement spotting.

In lthe ceiling construction of Figure 14, the chair used is essentially the same Aas that used in Figure 6. Instead,.however, of securing the ceiling to wooden joists, the ceiling is secured to an arch 6| from which wire or other'loops 62 de.- pend. A hook 63 engages the plate 22 secured to the housing member 24 of the chair and thus the 'chair is suspended from the arch 6|. Instead of the furring strips 38 as shown in Figures 6 and 7, preferably metallic channels 64 are vused and' the lathing 3| is secured to these In. the machinery support or' platform shown Y in Figure 15, almost .any combination of thevarious forms of chairs may be used, and that figure illustrates only one suitable form.` As shown there is a base or foundation 65 upon which side walls or enclosure members 66 are positioned. A series of chairs, indicated generally as X, is secured to or supported from the foundationA 65. 'Beams or screeds 61 are supported upon this series of chairs. On their upper Aedges they carry chairs Y and .upon these beamsl or screeds 68 are supported which in turn carry on their upper faces a series of chairs Z and upon these `are supported screeds 69 which carry on their-upper faces a finished flooring 16. The

chairs shown inFigur'e :15 resemble those of theform illustrated in Figures 10 andj11. As shown, however, the interior of the housing may be entirely lled with rubber instead of being filled with the combined rubber `and felt arrangement of Eisurcs 1o' and 11. It is to be is shown only in Figure 1, in which mineral wool 1| is shown as filling the space between the two floors. It is tobe understood that this might be omitted or that any sort of sound deadening or sound insulating material might be used and such insulating material might be used in connection with any of the constructions shown.

It will Ybe realized that whereas I have herewith shown and described a practical operative device, nevertheless many changes might' be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing materially from the spirit of my invention and I wish, therefor that my showing be taken as in a large sense diagrammatic.

In particular, where rubber is spoken of in the speciiication and claims, any generally analogous material is included, and the invention is not limited narrowly to the use of rubber but includes the usel of other cushioning materials.

The fact that the members forming the supporting element, as for instance in Figures 2 and 3, the lower plate i0 and the arm members i4 for this element toserve both as a load supporting member and as a hold-down member, Ythus obviating the necessity of having any hold-down. One of the advantages of the upper cushion 21 in connection with the ceiling support as shown` in Figures 6 and 7 is that this cushion which noro mally does not carry any load, limits the upward.

. of building operations and the like, as for in-` stance, without it there Imight be a. tendency `for the ceiling to gi've under the upward thrust of the plasterers trowel.

One of the very serious problems in comection with sound proofing especially iioors, is the tendency which iioors have to`rlse'as a result of warping of the wood caused by dampness, expansion and contraction and the'like. The device whi ch I have produced, while it supports the floor, at the same time holds it down and the cushioning e'eet and sound prooing and deadening eiect is equally important both in connection with my device as a hold down and as a door support.

1. In a ceiling construction, insulating means for supporting the ceiling, comprising a hollow member suitable for attachment `to a structural member, a second member lying within said hollow member and suitable for attachmenttoa second structural member, andnon-metallic insulating material surrounding said second member, spacing it away from 'said hollow member,

said insulating material being of a plurality of kinds.

2. A construction device for use in joining structural ,members said device comprising a part adapted to be secured to a structural mem'- ber, and shaped with a hollow portion, a second part adapted to be secured to a different structural member and passing through said hollow portion, aA rubber member positioned within said ,hollow portion and in contact with one of said low member. l i y 3. In a construction device, a part adapted to be secured to astructural member and including a'hollow portion, a second part adapted to be secured to a second structural member, and lying within .said hollow portion, and two sections of different insulating material lying within said hollow member, positioning and supporting saidA second member.

4- In a construction device, a part adapted to be secured ,to a structural member and including a hollow portion, a second part adapted to be secured to a second structural member, and lying within said hollow portion, and two sections of different insulating material lying within said hollow member positioning and supporting said second member, said insulating material comprising two different types of insulation.

5. A chair for building 'construction comprising two, spaced, perpendicular members, a nonmetallic resilient cushion joining them together and adapted to hold them in working relationship both under compression and tension loads, each member havin-g outwardly extending portions at vthe ends thereof and means for Afastening such portions to the structural parts of a. building.

6. A chair for building construction comprisi'ng two, spaced, perpendicular membersfa non--A metallic resilient cushion joining them together 4and adapted to hold them in working relationarms interposed between the non-metallic cush-v ion and the point of contacto! the member with l the building. i

7. A chair for building construction comprising two, spaced, perpendicular members, a non-metallic resilient cushion joininthem together and adapted to hold' them in working relationship both under compression and tension loads, each member having outwardly extending portions at the ends thereof and means for fastening such portions to the structural parts of a building. posi'tive means for limitingfthe relative excursion of the two space'dl members as the -non-metallic cushion yields.

CHARLES D. STEVENS. 

